In a major turning point for Swiss diplomacy and finance, the Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday the freezing of 687 million Swiss francs (approximately 750 million euros) belonging to former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his inner circle.

A strict legal framework

This measure is based on an order that came into force on January 5, 2026. It specifically targets the former leader, his wife Cilia Flores, as well as several former ministers and collaborators.

The key points of this deadlock:

1. Preventive nature: The objective is to prevent any flight of capital to other jurisdictions.
2. Composition of the funds: Although two-thirds of the assets were already frozen by previous procedures, the order made it possible to secure an additional 239 million Swiss francs .
3. Duration: The freeze is effective for a period of four years , extendable up to ten years.
4. Condition for restitution: In order to recover or confiscate these funds, the judicial authorities must prove their illicit origin within the framework of international judicial assistance.

A context of international crisis

This financial freeze comes as Nicolás Maduro and his wife are being held in New York following a US military operation in early January. Accused of drug trafficking, the former president claims to be a "prisoner of war."

Meanwhile, diplomatic pressure is mounting in Geneva. Before the UN Human Rights Council, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto denounced the arbitrary detention and demanded the "immediate release" of the presidential couple by the United States.

Note: Switzerland clarifies that no member of the Venezuelan government currently in place is targeted by this sanctions list, which is in line with measures taken by the European Union since 2018.